title: Evaluation of three commercially available real-time PCR based systems for detection of Cronobacter species.
abstract: In the last few years, various PCR based methods have been developed that enable detection of Cronobacter spp. to the genus and species level. Moreover, several real-time PCR based systems for detection of Cronobacter spp. are available, however, comparative evaluation studies are not available. The current study represents a comparative evaluation of three commercial diagnostic systems, namely the BAX® System PCR Assay Enterobacter sakazakii (DuPont, Qualicon, Wilmington, USA), the Assurance GDS™ Enterobacter sakazakii (BioControl, Bellvue, USA) and the foodproof® Enterobacter sakazakii Detection Kit (Biotecon Diagnostics, Potsdam, Germany) for the rapid identification of Cronobacter spp. Twenty-one target and non-target strains were included in the study and results were compared for specificity and convenience in performance. A specificity of 100% was observed for two of the three real time PCR systems tested, namely the Assurance GDS™ Enterobacter sakazakii and the foodproof® Enterobacter sakazakii Detection Kit for pure cultures as well as artificially contaminated powdered infant formula (PIF) samples.
authors.affiliation: QA and Food Safety Department, Hochdorf Nutritec AG, CH-6280 Hochdorf, Switzerland.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fricker-Feer
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cernela
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bolzan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lehner
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stephan
mesh_terms: D044083:Cronobacter sakazakii / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D041943:Infant Formula; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity